Racing: Aussie 'dog meat' continues fairytale

One of sport's greatest modern fairytales came true yesterday as an Australian racehorse once written off as "dog meat" and sold for just A$1000 ($1200) to a caravan-dwelling taxi driver, rode out victorious at Royal Ascot.

With observers talking about a "movie waiting to happen" and inevitable comparisons with that most celebrated of underdogs Seabiscuit, Takeover Target delighted the top-hatted crowds as he lead a five-furlong cavalry charge to win the £200,000 ($595,000) King's Stand Stakes by a short head.

His owner Joe Janiak, who only this year renewed his New South Wales cabbies' licence - "just in case" - said he planned to celebrate by cracking open a "few drinks" of cold beer to share with the bay gelding who has become a national hero in his native land.

But Takeover Target's amazing story is still not over in the UK and the gelding was immediately made favourite to win Saturday's (Sunday, NZ time) Golden Jubilee Stakes and scoop prestigious double sprint honours at Ascot.

Janiak, a man who says he is more at home in shorts and a T-shirt than the formal attire required at the royal meeting, admitted that he had been nervous at bringing his charge all the way from the other side of the world. His optimism was triumphantly rewarded after overcoming a poor draw to edge a nail biting photo finish.

"He travelled pretty good, that was my biggest worry. He handled that quite easy. He's a tough little horse. He's just all heart at the end of the day," said the down-to-earth Aussie.

While Takeover Target may have started out second favourite in yesterday's big race, it was not always so.

His story began at a rural auction in Australia three years ago. Suffering from apparently untreatable bad knees, coupled with a difficult temperament, the bay was one step away from slipping into horse racing oblivion - or worse - when he was bought by the enterprising Janiak.

The 58-year-old Polish immigrant, who subsidised his passion for horses with odd jobs and has spent the last decade living in a caravan, specialises in buying cheap and patching up, putting his acquisitions to the test in country race meetings in the hope of turning a profit.

In this "dogger's price" gelding, he spotted natural speed although he now admits instantly regretting handing over even this meagre sum when he examined the horse close up.

But after six months of tender loving care at his dusty Queanbeyan base near Canberra - care which extended to sharing the odd beer and even a slug of bourbon when the occasion warranted - something approaching a miracle had occurred.

After seeing off the opposition at Australia's network of country tracks, Takeover Target was tested against horses at leading meetings. In the first 11 weeks of competition, he had raced six times, notched up six wins, and earned his new owner a remarkable 200-fold return on his investment.

Janiak insists he will stop racing him rather than risk injury and envisages an idyllic retirement for his champion. But he looks set to enjoy one more day at least in the spotlight before then, and few are betting against him.

- INDEPENDENT